Polygon CEO Nailwal Unveils Major Overhaul, Accelerates Agglayer Rollout

Polygon CEO Sandeep Nailwal has unveiled a major overhaul of the network, marking a significant shift in the organization's strategic direction. Nailwal, who previously served as the project’s chief operating officer, is now assuming unilateral control to restructure and refocus the foundation. This transition is aimed at moving Polygon from a more passive phase to a more ambitious and focused vision under founder leadership.

One of the key changes under Nailwal's leadership is the accelerated rollout of Polygon Agglayer, the network’s long-awaited cross-chain aggregation layer. This upgrade is designed to enhance the network's interoperability and efficiency. The initiative aims to simplify interoperability and improve user experience across chains.

Another major overhaul involves the transformation of the current Polygon PoS chain into a new high-throughput blockchain called GigaGAS. This upgrade targets the ability to process over 100,000 transactions per second, significantly enhancing the network's capacity and performance. The GigaGAS chain is expected to deliver massive performance gains while retaining the network’s Ethereum compatibility, making it a powerful foundation for developers and enterprises alike.

Nailwal also announced the deprecation of the Polygon zkEVM product, which will be phased out over the next 12 months. The Foundation will continue to operate the chain's sequencer during this transition period and provide grants to projects migrating to other Polygon environments. This decision reflects a strategic shift towards more efficient and scalable solutions within the Polygon ecosystem.

The Bhilai upgrade, a major protocol enhancement, is set to launch in July. This upgrade promises faster settlement times, cheaper gas fees, and seamless integration with other blockchain networks. The Bhilai upgrade is part of a broader effort to improve the overall user experience and operational efficiency of the Polygon network.

Nailwal's leadership comes at a time when Polygon is undergoing significant changes. Co-founder Mihailo Bjelic recently left the project, leaving Nailwal as the only co-founder still actively involved. Previous co-founders Jaynti Kanani and Anurag Arjun stepped down in 2023, further emphasizing the need for a clear direction and focused execution under Nailwal's leadership.

Founded in 2017 as Matic Network, Polygon has been a pioneer in Ethereum scaling technologies, particularly in areas such as zero-knowledge aggregation and proof-of-stake innovation. Nailwal's appointment as CEO signals a renewed focus on these technologies, aiming to revitalize the network and position it as a leader in the blockchain ecosystem.

The sweeping changes also aim to drive long-term value to POL token holders. With a renewed focus on execution and innovation, the network plans to enhance staking rewards and expand real-world utility. By consolidating leadership and streamlining its technology stack, Polygon signals a new era—one led directly by its founding vision and centered on delivering scalable, user-centric blockchain solutions.